Joe Schmidt admits Joey Carbery's move to Munster has caught him by surprise.

Ireland head coach Schmidt and David Nucifora, the IRFU's director of performance, had made the initial contact with Carbery and his Leinster colleague Ross Byrne to check if either fancied a move to Ulster to fill the void at out-half at the province.

Carbery expressed some interest but in the meantime Munster have made their move, and the skilful 22-year-old is heading to Thomond Park on a two-year contract in a bid to nail down the no 10 jersey.

“It’s news to me,” said Schmidt, digesting the news that broke this morning of Carbery's decision.

“I haven’t had time to digest it personally. It’s a decision Joey has taken a bit of time over. It doesn’t seem to have affected his performances any - I think he’s played very well.

“I understand why Leinster would be desperately keen to hang on to him and why Munster feel that it’s a huge bonus for them.

“That’s a decision he’s made. Apart from him catching up with me, which was nicely photographed, I’ve left him to it."

Carbery leaves Leinster with a Champions Cup winner's medal and, as of last weekend, a PRO14 winner's medal also.

Leinster's Joey Carbery and Garry Ringrose celebrate after beating Scarlets in the PRO14 final

He came on in both finals but it was Byrne rather than Carbery who consistently got the nod from Leinster supremo Leo Cullen to fill in for Johnny Sexton throughout the season.

"The inital conversation with Leo and myself and David Nucifora was not the best timing for any of us,” said Schmidt, referring to the meeting between the coaches just prior to the Champions Cup semi-final win over the Scarlets.

“It certainly wasn’t where I wanted to be at the time but I had a job to do.

“I honestly wasn’t sure what he was going to do. I thought quite possibly he was going to stay put.

"I haven’t had that much time to think about it. I’ve had a quite a few other things on my plate”.